The effect of rings on microbial load of health care workers' hands.

Autor: Salisbury DM; Infection Control Department, Akron General Medical Center, OH 44307, USA., Hutfilz P, Treen LM, Bollin GE, Gautam S
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: American journal of infection control [Am J Infect Control] 1997 Feb; Vol. 25 (1), pp. 24-7.
DOI: 10.1016/s0196-6553(97)90049-3
Abstrakt: Background: The hands of health care workers (HCWs) serve as a major route for transmission of nosocomial infection. Although handwashing is known to reduce cross-transmission of infection, the influence of rings on the efficacy of handwashing and the carriage of bacteria on the hands has not been well established.
Methods: In this study, 50 HCWs with rings were paired by unit with 50 HCWs without rings. Cultures were obtained by use of a timed-friction rinse before and after a timed handwashing. Standard laboratory procedures were followed for identification of the bacteria.
Result: When colony counts before handwashing are taken into consideration, a significant difference is seen after handwashing between the two groups (R2 = 0.56). The regression model showed that the slope was significantly steeper (p < 0.0014) for the group with rings. This effect is more apparent when the colony count on hands is greater than 1000 colony forming units before handwashing.
Conclusions: A standardized, timed handwashing procedure was effective in decreasing the bioload of HCWs' hands. The effect of rings on the bioload was significant in this study.
Databáze: MEDLINE
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